Toy bowling game.



J. P. MGNAMARA.

TOY BOWLING GAME. APPLICATION-FILED DEC. 12, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

isa m J. P. MQNAMARA.

TOY BOWLING GAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1914.

1,133,810,, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mmm%m 4 2 K K W J. P. MGNAMARA. TOY BOWLING GAME.

APPLICATION IILEDDEO. 12, 1914."

L133fi10 Patented Mar.30, 1915.

mmm

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J'GHN EQMONAMARA, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

roY nownme GAME.

Specification t Letters Patent. Patented-Mar, 30, 19115,

Application tiled December 12, 1914. Serial No. 876,898.

, Zoallwhomz'tmay concern: j

1 Be it known that I, JOHN F. Molflenrms, a citizen of the United States, residin at the city of Danbury, county of Fair eld, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Bowling Games; and I do declare the following tobe' a full, clear, and exact descrlp- .tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in toy bowling apparatus, and pertains more particularly to that type of bowling apparatus 1n which the pins are movably supported so asto swing out of the path of the b a1ls ,.when they are.

hit by the latter and in which .theballs are projected by means of mechanical pro ect1ng 2'0; apparatus. v I

' The invention has for one of its ob1ects; to provide a bowling apparatus iii-which the pins arepivotedto swingin a vertical plane,

areh'eld raised up from the alley and $1. 5; out of the path of the; ball after they have once been struck. I, JA further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved 'means for resettmg the pins for the next frame after the pre- 80, ceding frame has been rolled.

' A still-further object of the inventlon is to provide means for returning the balls after each frame has been rolled to a position adjacent-and readily accessible to the players .35 vide coincontrolled mechanism for releasing the balls and depositing them in suitable re ceptaclesfer the players. a a

; With the-above and other objects 1n view, reference will be now had to the accompanys aw n s,.. .w

Figure 1 is atop planjviewof the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectionalview on the l1ne 2-2 of Fig. 1; -Fig. 3' is a cross sectlonal view on the line 3-:3 of Fig. 2, showing the pin setting mechanism, in section, and m fragment; 'Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof one of the pins; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the invention; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectlonal now taken on'the line 66 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectionalview onthe line 7 of Fig. 6, showing one of the ball returns broken away, and the other ball return removed; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the coin controlled mechanism,-taken on the line 8 -8 of Fig. t5; Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view partly in 5, the latter being.

[A further-object of the device is to pro-' elevation, of the coin controlled mechanism operating means; and Fig. 10 is a perspectlve view-of the pin retaining and resetting mechanism. a

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a base which is suitably supported by legs 2 at one end and a box like portion 3 at itsopposite end. The base 1 is made sufiicientlywide to accommodate two spaced bowling alleys 4c and arranged side by side, as shown in Fig. 1.1 The base 1 is provided with side boards 6.,"spaced"fro'm the. outer side edges of thegbowling alleys 4 and 5, to provide outer gu ters 7, while in the. space separating the bowling alleys 4 and{ 5,",and spaced therefrom is a partitiohilO'Whiichalso provides gutters 8 on opposite sides thereof.

At the rear ends of the alleys, the side boards 6, a'nd the central partition IOzare curved upwardly to provide aprons or the like, 12

to prevent the balls from flying from one alley to the other, or out of-the alleys. The rearends of the alleys 4 and 5, and base 1, terminate short of the legs 2ft o. r' yige a pit 13 which-is hop per-like in structure, and is adapted to receive the balls I after, they have hit the pins.

Supported by the base 1, are two inverted U-shaped members 15 arranged one over each-alley, and

the pins 17, alley.

20.having vertically extending legs '21-, and

- a base member 22 which connects thelegs 21,

the member 22 being mounted for sliding engagement under the alley. One of these members 'is provided for each alley.

Mounted in the legs 21 of the-U-shapedmeinbers 20 near the upper end-thereof are two parallel rods 25 and 2,6'a'nd"ab0ve1these rods 25 and 26 and arranged centrally thereof is a third rod 27, the purpose-of which will appear hereinafter.

Pivotecl to the rearmost rod 26 of the two rods 25 and 26 are sheet metal latching members 28, the forward, ends of which rest on the foremost'rod 25, and are supported by the latter against downward movement.

The opposite sides of the U-shaped members are provided with integral lugs or projections 30 which slide in slots 31 in the side boards 6 and partition 10, to guide the U- pivoted to the tops of' 'the- U-shaped members by means of eyes-lfi'a-re there being five pinsforeach' shaped members in their reciprocal movement longitudinally of the alley.

Connected centrally to the base portion 22- of the U-shaped members 20 at 32 is a rod 33, which rod extends to the forward end of the alleys and has secured to the end thereof a knob 34 for manual manipulation.

Fastened at one end to lugs 35 integral with the base portion 22 of the U-shaped members 20-, are springs 36, 'the other ends of which are connected as at 37to the base 1.

Secured on the inner face of the front wall 40 of the box-like support 3 is a coin chute 41, and pivoted at 42 in the side walls of the box-like support is a rod 43. Rod 43 has integral therewith a platform 44, the free end 45 of which projects into the coin slot 41 as shown in Fig. 7.

Integral .with the pivoted rod 43 are two platforms 46 and 47, and extending rearwardly from each of the platforms46 and 4-7 isan arm 49, which is provided with an adjustable weight 50.

Extending. forwardly from each of the hopper-like pits 13 is an inclined troughlike ball return 51, the bottom of which is cut away at 52 to deliver the balls upon the platforms 46 and 47, the platforms being held upwardly against the cut-out portions of the ball returns by means of the weights 50.

Directly opposite the platforms 46 and 47, the front wall 40 of the box-like support 3 is provided with openings 53 and 54, the purpose of which is to permit of the passage of the balls from said platform to the pockets 55 and 56.

Supported by the front wall 40 of the forward support 3 on the interior thereof is a box 57 which is mounted adjacent to, and lies parallel with the coin chute 41.

The side of the box 57 adjacent the coin chute 41 is provided with a slot 58, the upper portion of which is out of vertical ahnement with the remainder of the slot as at 59 (see Fig. 9) for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Above the box 57 and supported by the wall 40 is an eye 60, and pro ecting' through a slot 61 in the front wall 40 is a lever 62 having a handle 63 on one end, and having its other end bent downwardly and extendin through the eye 60 and into the box 57.

bur-rounding the downwardly extending portion of the lever 62 and having one end engaging the eye 60, and the other end engaging a collar 65 on the lever. is a spring 66, the purpose of which is to return the lever to normal up position after it has been depressed.

The lever has secured to its lower end, a right angular extension which is received and 'ded in its vertical movement by the anguii slot 59 to carry the extension 70 out of the path of the coin when the parts are in their normal position.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, pistols 7 5 may be used to shoot the balls 76 at the pins, but it will of course be understood 70 that the balls may be moved down the alleys by an ordinary billiard one or they may be .shot by the hand as in playing the game of marbles.

'The operation isas followsi A coin upon insertionin the coin slot 41, gravitates until it rests upon the platform 44. The handle 63 is now depressed to thus force the right angular extension 70 down through the coin slot until it engages the coin. Engagement 80 of the right angular extension with the coin rocks the shaft 43, and throws the platforms 46 and 47 downwardly and permits of the balls 76 rolling through the opening 53 into the pockets 55. The halls are then 86 taken by the player and shot along the alley at the pins by means of the pistols or any suitable device. The halls upon hitting the pins rock the latter about their pivotal support to the position shown in dotted lines in 90 the transverse bar 27 when they are arrested and immediately fall down to normal position. The pins in their movement to down JOSltlOll engage the latching members as in *ig. 2 and are thus retained out of the path of the balls until the pins are reset. To reset the pins the rods 33 are pushed against the action of the springs 36 which moves the U-shaped members in the guides 31 thus moving the latching means out from under the pivoted pins and allowing the pins to swing downwardly to normal position. Under the influence of the springs 36 the U- shaped member 20 is returned to its normal position where the pins will be engaged by the latching means upon the next operation.

The halls after hittmg the pins pass into the hopper shaped pit 13 and are returned by the inclined ball returns 51 to the platforms 46 and 47, where they are retained until the insertion of another coin and operation of the coin controlled mechanism.

What is claimed is: 1. In a toy bowling apparatus, a pin support, a plurality of pins pivotally secured thereto, pivoted latching means for the pins,

saidlatching means being slidable to release the pins, and means for sliding the latching means.

2. In a bowling apparatus, a bowling alley, a pluralitv of pins pivoted above the 12:,

alley, a spring pressed frame movable rela tive to the pins, means to operate the frame against the action of the spring to move the frame away from'the pins, and individual latches, borne; by the frame and movable 13o a ing the balls to the front of the alleys, and

. for returning the latch frame to normal independently thereof by the pins striking same and movable bodily with the frame.

3. A toy bowling apparatus, comprising,

a stationarv pin support, a plurality of pins pivoted to said support above the alleys, a

spring retracted frame, a plurality of pin latching means carried by said frame, and means for moving the frame carrying the pin latching means to release the pins.

4. A toy bowling apparatus comprising a stationary pin support, a plurality of pins pivoted to said pin support, a frame behind the pin support, a plurality of pivoted latches on the frame adapted to support the pins, and meansfor moving the latches longitudinally of the alleys to release the pins. 5. A toy bowling apparatus comprising a plurality of bowlin alleys, a pin support rigidly supported a ove each alley, a plurality of pins suspended from said pin sup port, a frame behind the rality of latches pivoted in said frame, a stop for the latches, a ball chute for returncoln controlled means for releasing the balls. 6. Atoy bowling apparatus, comprising in combination with a bowling alley, a pin support, a plurality of pins pivoted 'to said pm support, a frame slidable with respect to the alleys, a plurality of pin latching means carried by said frame, means for sliding the frame to release the pins, and means position.

7. In combination with abowling alley, and a return, a wall having an outlet, the end of the return adjacent the outlet being spaced from the latt r, a horizontal control in said space,-and megns to actuate the controlso that the ball may from and enter the outlet.

8. A toy bowling apparatus-comprising a bowling alley,

gravitate therei and movable longitudinally thereof, a stationary frame,

a plurality'of pins pivoted thereto,

a gravity latch for each pin carried pin support, a plu- P a frame at oneend thereof the movable frame,

pins, and means for returning the frame to normal position.

9. A toy bowling apparatus comprising'a bowling alley, a pin support near one end thereof, a plurality of pins pivoted thereto, a plurality of latches for supporting the pins out of the path of the balls on the alley, a movable frame, carrying the latches, and means for moving said frame to release the pins.

10. A toy bowling apparatus comprising a bowling alley, a frame at one end thereof and movable longitudinally thereof, a stationary frame, a plurality of pins pivoted thereto, a gravity latch forieach pin carried by the movable frame, manually operated means for moving said frame to release the pins, an automatically operating means to return the latches to pin supporting position.

V 11. In combination with a bowling alley and a support, pins swingably connected to the support, latching means to automatically holdv the pins horizontally after striking thereof, means to effect relativemiovement between the support and latching means by sliding one away from the other so as to release the pins from the latter and means to restore the elements to normal position after operation thereof. 7

12. In combination with a bowling alley and a support, pins swingably connected to the support, latching means to automatically hold the pins horizontally after striking thereof, and means to impart movement to all of the latches in unison by sliding same as a unit away from the pins to release the same from the pins.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. MONAMARA. 

